It is almost impossible systematically to constitute a natural moral law. Nature has no principles. She furnishes us with no reason to believe that human life is to be respected. Nature, in her indifference, makes no distinction between good and evil.
Anatole FranceDistrust even Mathematics; albeit so sublime and highly perfected, we have here a machine of such delicacy it can only work in vacuo, and one grain of sand in the wheels is enough to put everything out of gear. One shudders to think to what disaster such a grain of sand may bring a Mathematical brain. Remember Pascal.
Anatole FranceNo government ought to be without censors; and where the press is free, no one ever will. Chance is the pseudonym of God when he did not want to sign.
Anatole FranceThe duty of literature is to note what counts, and to light up what is suited to the light. If it ceases to choose and to love, it becomes like a woman who gives herself without preference.
Anatole FranceSo long as society is founded on injustice, the function of the laws will be to defend injustice. And the more unjust they are the more respectable they will seem.
Anatole FranceWord-carpentry is like any other kind of carpentry: you must join your sentences smoothly.
Anatole FranceOf all earthly creatures, humans alone have the power to choose. One must never lose time in vainly regretting the past nor in complaining about the changes which cause us discomfort, for change is the very essence of life.
Anatole FranceThat man is prudent who neither hopes nor fears anything from the uncertain events of the future.
Anatole FranceA person is never happy except at the price of some ignorance. [The ability to focus on positives and distract your mind from negatives for at least a time is a necessary skill for being happy.]
Anatole FranceThe average man does not know what to do with this life, yet wants another one which will last forever.
Anatole FranceSometimes one day in a difference place gives you more than ten years of a life at home.
Anatole FranceMen are not created to know, men are not created to understand ... and our illusions increase with our knowledge.
Anatole FranceOnly men who are not interested in women are interested in women's clothes. Men who like women never notice what they wear.
Anatole FranceIn order that knowledge be properly digested it must have been swallowed with a good appetite.
Anatole FranceFor every monarchy overthrown the sky becomes less brilliant, because it loses a star. A republic is ugliness set free.
Anatole FranceThose who have given themselves the most concern about the happiness of peoples have made their neighbors very miserable.
Anatole FranceDo not try to satisfy your vanity by teaching a great many things. Awaken people's curiosity. It is enough to open minds; do not overload them. Put there just a spark. If there is some good inflammable stuff, it will catch fire.
Anatole FranceHe flattered himself on being a man without any prejudices; and this pretension itself is a very great prejudice.
Anatole FranceIt is by acts, and not by ideas, that people ensure the bar down the street cannot have a patio.
Anatole FranceThe first virtue of all really great men is that they are sincere. They eradicate hypocrisy from their hearts.
Anatole FranceThe whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards.
Anatole FranceTruth possesses within herself a penetrating force, unknown alike to error and falsehood. I say 'truth' and you understand my meaning. For the beautiful words truth and justice need not to be defined in order to be understood in their true sense.
Anatole FranceA people living under the perpetual menace of war and invasion is very easy to govern. It demands no social reform. It does not haggle over expenditures for armaments and military equipment. It pays without discussion, it ruins itself, and that is an excellent thing for the syndicates of financiers and manufacturers for whom patriotic terrors are an abundant source of gain.
Anatole France